Windows 7 Offline Privacy Statement for the Microsoft Error Reporting Service For the most up-to-date privacy

information, see the online Windows 7 Privacy St atement at: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=104288 WHAT THIS FEATURE DOES The Microsoft Error Reporting Service helps Microsoft and Microsoft partners dia gnose problems in the software you use and provide solutions. Not all problems h ave solutions, but when solutions are available, they are offered as steps to so lve a problem youve reported or as updates to install. To help prevent problems a nd make software more reliable, some solutions are also included in service pack s and future versions of the software. The Microsoft Error Reporting Service also provides Setup Repair, an error repor ting service that may run during Windows setup if a problem occurs. INFORMATION COLLECTED, PROCESSED, OR TRANSMITTED Many Microsoft software programs, including Windows 7, are designed to work with the reporting service. If a problem occurs in one of these software programs, y ou might be asked if you want to report it. If you host virtual machines using a Windows operating system, reports generated by the Windows operating system fo r the Microsoft Error Reporting Service might include information about virtual machines. The reporting service collects information that is useful for diagnosing and sol ving the problem that has occurred, such as: * * * * * Where the problem happened in the software or hardware The type or severity of the problem Files that help describe the problem Basic software and hardware information Possible software performance and compatibility problems

These reports might unintentionally contain personal information. For example, a report that contains a snapshot of computer memory might include your name, par t of a document you were working on, or data that you recently submitted to a we bsite. If a report is likely to contain this type of information, Windows will a sk if you want to send this information, even if you have enabled automatic repo rting through the Recommended settings option in setup, or Control Panel. This giv es you the opportunity to review the report before sending it to Microsoft. Repo rts including files and data might be stored on your computer until you have an opportunity to review and send them, or after they have been sent. If an error report contains personal information, Microsoft does not use the inf ormation to identify you or contact you. In addition, if you enable automatic re porting through the "Recommended settings" option in setup, or in Control Panel, the reporting service will send basic information about where problems occur au tomatically, but these reports will not have the detail described above. After you send a report, the reporting service might ask you for more informatio n about the error you experienced. If you choose to provide your phone number or e-mail address in this information, your error report will be personally identi fiable. Microsoft might contact you to request additional information to help so lve the problem you reported.

The Microsoft Error Reporting Service generates a globally unique identifier (GU ID) that is stored on your computer and sent with error reports to uniquely iden tify your computer. The GUID is a randomly generated number; it does not contain any personal information and is not used to identify you. We use the GUID to di stinguish how widespread the feedback we receive is and how to prioritize it. Fo r example, the GUID allows Microsoft to distinguish between one customer experie ncing a problem one hundred times and one hundred customers experiencing the sam e problem once. USE OF INFORMATION Microsoft uses information about errors and problems to improve Microsoft produc ts and services as well as third-party software and hardware designed for use wi th these products and services. Microsoft employees, contractors, vendors, and p artners might be provided access to information collected by the reporting servi ces. However, they will use the information only to repair or improve Microsoft products and services and third-party software and hardware designed for use wit h Microsoft products and services. Microsoft might share aggregate information about errors and problems. Microsoft uses aggregate information for statistical analysis. Aggregate information does not contain specific information from individual reports, nor does it include a ny personal or confidential information that might have been collected from a re port. Except as described in this statement, personal information you provide will not be transferred to third parties without your consent. We occasionally hire othe r companies to provide limited services on our behalf, such as performing statis tical analysis. We will only provide those companies the personal information th ey need to deliver the service, and they are prohibited from using that informat ion for any other purpose. Microsoft may access or disclose information about you, including the content of your communications, in order to: (a) comply with the law or respond to lawful requests or legal process; (b) protect the rights or property of Microsoft or ou r customers, including the enforcement of our agreements or policies governing y our use of the software; or (c) act on a good faith belief that such access or d isclosure is necessary to protect the personal safety of Microsoft employees, cu stomers, or the public. Information collected by or sent to Microsoft by Windows 7 may be stored and pro cessed in the United States or any other country in which Microsoft or its affil iates, subsidiaries, or service providers maintain facilities. Microsoft abides by the safe harbor framework as set forth by the U.S. Department of Commerce reg arding the collection, use, and retention of data from the European Union. CHOICE AND CONTROL If you choose the recommended settings during Windows 7 setup, basic information about errors will be sent automatically to Microsoft. If a more detailed error report is required, you will be prompted to review it before it is sent. You can change this setting at any time by going to Action Center in Control Panel. SECURITY PRACTICES Microsoft is committed to helping protect the security of your information. We u se a variety of security technologies and procedures to help protect your inform ation from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. For example, we store the in formation you provide on computer systems with limited access, which are located in controlled facilities.

FOR MORE INFORMATION If you have questions about this privacy statement, please contact us by submitt ing your questions online to Privacy Feedback at: http://go.microsoft.com/?LinkID=9634754 Windows 7 Offline Privacy Statement for the Microsoft Error Reporting Service c/o Microsoft Privacy Response Center Microsoft Corporation One Microsoft Way Redmond, Washington 98052 USA